The Tamron 90mm f2.8 Di III Macro VXD (Model F072) is a 1:1 macro lens for Sony E-mount and Nikon Z-mount. It is the successor to Tamron’s SP 90mm f2.8 Di VC USD Macro from 2016 for DSLRs. Macro lenses with focal length around 100mm are popular for macro photography and general-purpose use as they offer more working distance than shorter focal lengths. This makes it easier to light your subject and less likely for small critters to shy away. 90mm is also a nice focal length for portraiture. Tamron’s new lens has no optical image stabilization but relies instead on the in-body image stabilization of Sony’s and Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras. At 699 EUR the lens is cheaper than the alternatives from Nikon and Sony. It should become available end of October.

Facts and features

Let’s compare Tamron’s 90mm f2.8 Di III Macro (“Tamron” for short) to the Nikon Z MC 105mm f2.8 VR S (“Nikon”) and the Sony FE 90mm f2.8 Macro G OSS (“Sony”). As usual I’ve rated the features with a [+] (or [++]), when it’s better than average or even state of the art, a [0] if it’s standard or just average, and [-] if there’s a disadvantage.

Size (diameter x length): 79 x 129mm (3.1 x 5.1in.) for the Nikon Z version, the Sony version is 2mm shorter. The lens hood probably adds around 60mm and should be around 90mm in diameter. The Nikon is 85 x 140mm + 63mm lens hood, Sony is 79 x 131mm + 51mm lens hood. [+]

Weight: 640g (22.6 oz.) for the Nikon Z version, the Sony version is 10g lighter. The plastic lens hood probably adds around 45g. The Nikon is 622g + 67g lens hood, the Sony is 602g + 43g lens hood. [0]

Optics: 15 elements in 12 groups including 4 special dispersion element. The optical formula of the Sony and Nikon is of similar complexity but employs an aspherical element. [+]

Minimum object distance is 0.23m (0.75ft.) which results in a very short working distance of 9cm and a maximum magnification of 1:1. A magnification of 1:10 should be achieved at around 1m object distance. Sony’s MOD is 0.28m which results in a slightly larger working distance of 13cm – similar to the Nikon. [+]

Image stabilization: The Tamron has no optical stabilization. But Sony’s and Nikon’s full-frame cameras provide built-in sensor-shift stabilization. Both alternatives from Sony and Nikon offer optical image stabilization. [0]

Filter-thread: Tamron has standardized on 67mm filters across almost all of its mirrorless lenses. Which results in a nice cost saving when buying high-quality filters for multiple lenses. No other manufacturer does it with the same consistency. Both Sony and Nikon lenses need 62mm filters. [++]

Autofocus: All lenses in this comparison offer autofocus with built-in focus drive. Manual-focus override is by simply turning the dedicated focus ring. The focus ring has the usual variable gearing which allows for very precise manual focus when turned slowly. The Tamron and Nikon focus ring direction and gearing are configurable, the Sony switches to linear gearing in MF. The Tamron supports camera key functions like (Fast-)Hybrid AF, eye detection etc. [+]

Aperture ring: No, but the focus ring can be configured to operate the aperture. The Sony has a dedicated aperture ring, the Nikon has a control ring which can be assigned to operate the aperture (which is the default), exposure compensation, or ISO sensitivity – or simply switched off. [+]

Aperture: The Tamron has 12 circular aperture blades which results in sun stars with 12 rays when stopped down. The Sony and Nikon have 9 aperture blades resulting in sun stars with 18 rays. The effective focal ratio of the lens is reduced from f2.8 at infinity to f5.6 at 1:1 magnification. That’s the same with the Nikon, and Nikon Z cameras display this value. On Sony mirrorless cameras the F-numbers are displayed at their nominal value – i.e. f2.8 stays f2.8 regardless of focusing distance. [+]

Additional control elements: The Tamron has a focus limiter switch (MOD-0.7m/0.7m-infinity/full) plus a focus set button to which various functions from the camera/TAMRON Lens Utility can be assigned. The Nikon has a focus limiter, a button for assignable lens functions, AF/MF switch and a display indicating (effective) aperture or focusing distance (in m or ft.) and depth-of-field, or magnification. The Sony also has a lens function button, focus limiter, and AF/MF switch, plus a switch for optical stabilization. [+]

Lens profile: All lenses in this comparison come with a lens profile for vignette control, diffraction compensation, and distortion control. [+]

All three lenses cover full frame/FX or smaller sensors. On cameras with an APS-C / DX sensor the angle of view becomes equivalent to a 135mm lens on a full-frame camera. [+]

Price: 699 EUR (incl. 19% VAT) / ??? USD / ??? GBP. The Nikon Z MC 105mm f2.8 VR S currently sells for 900 EUR / 1050 USD / 830 GBP. The Sony FE 90mm f2.8 Macro G OSS costs 880 EUR / 1100 USD / 790 GBP. [+]

The Tamron comes without a pouch but the lens hood is included and reversible for transport. It has a sliding window to make it easy to rotate filters. [0]

Sealing: All three lenses in this comparison have a rubber grommet at the lens-mount plus further special weather-sealing throughout the construction. [+]

Tamron’s new 90mm f2.8 Di III Macro turns out to be well featured with a score of 0[-]/3[0]/13[+]: The lens is pretty compact, can be configured widely with Tamron’s lens utility, is well protected against the elements and comes at a price well below the Nikon Z MC 105mm f2.8 VR S and Sony FE 90mm f2.8 Macro G OSS. Its major deficiency is the lack of an optical image stabilization – but this may be a moot point with todays in-body stabilization and a widespread use of tripods in macro photography.

If Tamron’s new lens can improve on the already convincing optical performance of its DSLR predecessor from 2016 the 90mm f2.8 Di III Macro should be a very interesting alternative to the macro lenses from Nikon and Sony.

Sharpness and contrast

Let’s have a look at the theoretical performance of the Tamron 90mm f2.8 Di III Macro and compare it to the alternatives:

Above: Tamron 90mm f2.8 Di III Macro at f2.8 (left), Nikon Z MC 105mm f2.8 VR S at f2.8 (right)

Above: Sony FE 90mm f2.8 Macro G OSS at f2.8 (left), Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro VC II at f2.8 (right)

These MTF charts show the computed lens-performance of lenses wide open at infinity without influence of diffraction at 10 line-pairs/mm (red) and 30 lp/mm (blue) except for the charts of the Sony where the red lines show the performance at f8.0. Higher values are better (more contrast) and the closer the dotted and solid lines are together the less contrast dependents on the orientation of the test-pattern (less astigmatism). The x-axis displays the distance from the optical axis (=center of the sensor) in mm.

From the charts the Tamron 90mm f2.8 Di III Macro looks on a par with Nikon’s Z MC 105mm f2.8 VR S and sharper than the Sony FE 90mm f2.8 Macro G OSS and its predecessor, the Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro VC II. But remember: The MTF charts show contrast and resolution at infinity. Performance of these lenses in close-up shooting up to 1:1 magnification may produce different results.

In my full review we’ll see how this theoretical performance translates into real life results on a Nikon Z8 set to 16 image Pixel shift shooting – resulting in 180MP test-shots.